Home / News / Mesothelioma Patients Could Be Impacted by Federal Cannabis Decision

Mesothelioma Patients Could Be Impacted by Federal Cannabis Decision

A decision could come within weeks that could dramatically affect access to medicinal marijuana for thousands of patients with malignant mesothelioma.

Parts of the marijuana plant have been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments, including intractable cancers like pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma and cancer-related pain.

However, access to marijuana and its medicinal derivatives called cannabinoids is not always easy for mesothelioma patients, especially if they do not live in one of the 25 states that have legalized its use.

That is because marijuana is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule 1 substance, officially declaring it to have no beneficial medical qualities and classifying it as “illicit”.

Rescheduling Cannabis

But that position may be about to change. The DEA is discussing the possibility “rescheduling” marijuana, moving it up the scale from a Schedule 1 substance to a Schedule 2. A decision could come as early as the next few weeks.

Although this potential reclassification of cannabis might seem to be good news for mesothelioma patients who use it (or want to), experts are mixed about the impact it may have.

While Schedule 2 substances are acknowledged to have medical benefits, they are also considered highly addictive (morphine and oxycodone are Schedule 2 substances) and are heavily regulated by the FDA.

According to an article on The Motley Fool website, a change in the regulatory picture for marijuana and cannabinoids could put some suppliers out of business and make the product more expensive and harder to come by for patients who want to use it as part of their mesothelioma treatment.

Marijuana and Mesothelioma Survival

But there are also potential upsides to medical marijuana rescheduling in terms of its use in the treatment of mesothelioma. Schedule 2 substances are easier for researchers to study. There are currently few clinical studies of medical marijuana. Schedule 2 substances are also legal for doctors to prescribe to their patients with mesothelioma or other conditions.

In the meantime, the lack of clinical studies or prescribing rights for medical marijuana have not kept thousands of mesothelioma patients like Californian Andy Ashcraft from using it.

Like many pleural mesothelioma patients, 69-year-old Ashcraft had stopped responding to conventional medical therapies and had run out of treatment options when he and his wife Ruth discovered cannabis oil.

Cannabis oil contains tetrahydracannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), two active ingredients which have been shown to cause a build up of ceramide, eventually killing the mitochondria that mesothelioma cells need for energy.

The Ashcrafts obtained cannabis oil through California’s Medical Marijuana Program and Andy, now a six year mesothelioma survivor, has used it since 2013 as part of his daily mesothelioma-fighting regimen. Click here to read more about the Ashcraft’s story as well as the history and use of medical marijuana as an alternative mesothelioma treatment.

Surviving Mesothelioma will continue to monitor the status of medical marijuana and to keep mesothelioma patients and their families updated on any changes that could affect their treatment options.

Sources:

Baca, Ricardo, “The good, the bad, and the ugly of moving pot to Schedule II”, June 27, 2016, The CannabistWilliams, Sean, “Arguably the Most Important Marijuana Decisions Ever is Just Weeks Away), June 25, 2015, The Motley Fool

Related

“My Name is Paul Kraus and I Have Survived Mesothelioma for Over 20 Years.”

In 1997 I was diagnosed with mesothelioma. The doctors gave me just a few short months to live...

But here I am, 20 years later, alive and well.

I wrote a book explaining how I became the longest living mesothelioma survivor in the world.

Today, I'd like to give you a copy for free because I want more people to survive this disease.

All you have to do is click the button below now. You will receive the book within 72 hours.

"It has been over four years now and I can honestly say I am doing great. I highly recommend this book because it is inspirational and educational."

— Tom Crittenden, Maricopa, Az.

*Note: We have limited copies available for free. Free copies of the book are only available in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Recent Article

Belgian Mesothelioma Survival Study

November 17, 2018

A new Belgian mesothelioma survival study contains important insights for patients and doctors. Cancer center researchers did the study with data from the Belgian Cancer Registry. It includes more than 1400 patients. They received mesothelioma diagnosis between 2004 and 2012. The analysis is similar to past mesothelioma research. It shows the longest-surviving patients are the ones who have chemotherapy. Surgery patients also live longer. The third longer-living group are patients treated at experienced cancer centers. Mesothelioma Survival and Treatment The mesothelioma survival study asks what kinds of patients live longest and why. Researchers had to first see what treatments most patients receive. They found that most mesothelioma patients have chemotherapy. Chemotherapy usually includes pemetrexed (Alimta) and cisplatin. This is the … Continue reading Belgian Mesothelioma Survival Study»

Disclaimer

Surviving Mesothelioma® is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Cancer Monthly, Inc. and the website is owned and managed by Cancer Monthly, Inc. All of the information provided on this website or by an employee or contractor of Cancer Monthly is for informational purposes only. This website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. This website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease and it is not a substitute for professional care. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to an existing treatment. You should not delay in seeking or disregard medical advice based on information on this website or by any employee or contractor of Cancer Monthly. Following any information on this website or in the materials sent out does NOT guarantee similar future results.